Table 1.

Characteristics of 359 rectal cancer patients enrolled in an epidemiologic study by radiation therapy status

Characteristics		No radiation therapy (N=222)		Radiation therapy (N=137)
		No.	(%)*	No.	(%)*
Age	45–49	17	8%	11	8%
	50–54	49	22%	27	20%
	55–59	38	17%	28	20%
	60–64	25	11%	22	16%
	65–69	31	14%	16	12%
	70–74	28	13%	20	15%
	75–80	34	15%	13	9%
sex	Female	109	49%	63	46%
	Male	113	51%	74	54%
Race	African	63	28%	21	15%
	Other	159	72%	116	85%
Cancer stage	Local/regional	154	69%	68	50%
	Node or distant metastasis	68	31%	69	50%
Surgery	No	25	11%	16	12%
	Local excision	59	27%	15	11%
	Segmental resection	114	51%	65	47%
	Proctectomy	24	11%	41	30%
Chemotherapy	No	185	83%	11	8%
	Received	37	17%	126	92%
Vital status	Alive	132	59%	68	50%
	Died of cancer	59	27%	53	39%
	Died of other causes	31	14%	16	12%

^*column percentages within groups (no radiation or radiation)